Game apparatus.



F. A. YEAGER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I9. 1914.

1,21 1,026., Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

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WITN ESSES INVENTOR w zz 15 @Mg 21 7 FREDERICK A. YEAGEB, OF JOHNS'II'OWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1%1'2.

Application filed Januaiy 19,1914. Serial No. 812,894.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LFREDERICK A. YEAGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Onejof the objects of this invention is to provide'means whereby the force of a blow against a projectile may be mechanically measured so .as to determine the force of impact, and thereby arrive at the distance the projectile would be propelled in the event of there being no interference with its tive view of one form of my invention; and

' other,

Fig. 2 is a side view in section of a modified form thereof.

In adapting the invention for indoor golf, I may employ a pair of impact transmitting devices consisting of wings 1 and 2 pivoted to upstanding pintles 3 and 1 which may be secured to the floor of a room by any suitable means. Each wing is preferably provided with a weight orhammer, for example, those designated by the numerals '5 and 6. The two wings are shown as having their free ends adjacent to each and to one side of each wing is shown a register 7 for the wingl and for the wing 2. Each register is provided with an impact receiving plunger 9 and 10 respectively; In front of the barrier formed by the two wings 1 and 2, a barrier 11 in the form of a sheet of canvas or similar material may be suitably suspended so as to arrest the flight of the ball 12 when it has been driven by the .club 13 in the hands of the player.

V1 hen the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1 and an impact orblow is communicated to the ball 12, the impact transmitting devices 1 and 2 will be swung on their pintles with sufficient force to cause the hammers 5 and 6 to come into contact with the plungers 9 and 10. The blows struck on the plungers 9 or 10 will be approximately that communicated to the ball, and if the ball is hit by the club 13 directly in the center so as to propel it in a straight line, each impact transmitting device or wing 1 and 2 should communicate one-half of the blow to its respective plunger, so that each registering mechanism will register one-half of the sum total of the blow struck by the club. If, however, the ball is not hit directly in the center or more of the impact is communicated to one side of the center of the ball than to the other, the impact transmitting device on the side of the ball receiving the major portion of the blow will cause its register to register a greater proportion of the blow struck than the register on the other side, so that the player may determine whether a blow was communicated to the ball such as would impart a slice or pull thereto if the flight was unreta-rded. The sheet of canvas barrier 11 will retard the flight of the ball after it has passed the impact transmitting devices 1 and 2.

' The distance that the sheet 11 will be from the members 1 and 2 may be varied to suit the whim of the player.

With the device constructed as heretotore described, the player may arrange a map of an imaginary golf course or a map of an actual golf course, and by observing the indicators, may determine the position of the ball after each drive for each hole. Also approach shots and other shots may be assimilated by simply observing the dial of the indicators, and observing the position of the ball asit strikes the canvas. By this means, the operator can approximately determine just whatjthe result would be of w ed to strike against the spring pressed plun ger 19 in the guide tube 20, and through the medium of a pivoted lever 21' impart motion to the plunger22of the registering mechanism. In the latter case, the calculaunderstood that thefull and direct effect of tions for the length of flight of the ball may be determined by viewing the indicator 23.

The indicator dials may be properly calibrated in divisions of yards, but as the actual calibration of the indicator or the actual indicator construction is not apart of this invention, I have deemed it unnecessary to specifically refer to any particular mechanism. v

Inasmuch as the ball is in contact or substantially in contact with the barrier at the time the blow is struck, it will be readily therblow is placed on the barrier itself, the ball, at the blow-receiving instant acting to transmit the eifectof the blow directly to the barrier, the latter being moved by such blow out of the path of movement of the ball, leaving the latter free to travel under the elfect of the. blow. This arrangement permits of the use ofthe usual golf clubs, and simulates playing conditions of the game; i "What I claim is l 1. In apparatus for mechanically determining the flight of a ball under the action of animpact device, a movable impact-receiving member temporarily contacting with the ball when the latter is subjected to impact from said device, and a registering mechanismzin the path of movement of the impact-receiving member and adapted to receiveand register the blow from saidmem-V ber, the movements of the member under the blow permitting the ball to take its flight.

2 In apparatus for determiningthe efiect of ablow, on .a. golf ball under the action of i a club, a swinging impact-transmittirrg mem- V berr substantially contacting-with the ball when the latteris subjected to impact from said. club and movable outof the path of flight of the ball, and registering mechanism having means in the path of movement of the swinging impacttransmitting member .to receive a blowtherefrom.

3. In an apparatus for measuring the flightof a golf ball, independently, swinging V blow communicated to the ball, said barriers barriers substantially in contact with and adapted to receive the force of impact of a beingmovable away fromv andout of the di? rection of flight of the ball, and registering swing of the barrier to indicate the force of the blow communicated thereto. 7

5. The combination ofaydivided barrier, each member of the barrier being movable, and a registeringmechani'sm in the path of movement of each barrier, each registering mechanism beingadapted to indicate the force of the blow communicated to its par- V ticular barrier member.

6. The combination of a pairrof swinging wings, each wing being adapted; to receive a proportion of the blow communicated'by a ball, and indicating mechanisms in thepath of movement of the wings to indicate'the proportionof the-blow taken by each wing. 7 In apparatus for measuringjthe extent of a blow onza golf b all,,'an impact-receiving member adaptedt o temporarily'contact with the ball in advance of the delivery of the blow, said member being pivoted. at one end, the other 'end being freely movable about the axis of the pivot, and 'a'registering mechanism in the path of movement of said im-" pact-receiving member to" indicate the force of the blow communicated to said member. 8. The combinationwith game apparatus elements adapted to provide blow imparting and blow receiving, action," of'imea'suring mechanism adapted to indicate theieffect of theblow received, saidmech'anism including a member in contact with the blow-receiving element whenthe blow is received, whereby the direct effect of the blow will be trans V mitted to said member, said mechanism being independent of said game apparatus elements to. permit game playlng lndependent of the mechanism. Y

The combination with game apparatus elements adaptedzto provide blow' imparting and blow receiving action, of measuring mechanism adapted to indicatethe eflect of the blowfreceiv'ed, said mechanism including .a member in contact with the blowrec'eiving elementwhen the blow=is received,.said mem ber being movable out of the path ofmo'vement of the blow-receiving elementnnder the action of. theblow transmitted from the blow-imparting element to said member through the blow-receiving element, said .mechanism being independent of said game apparatus elements to 1 rmit game 5 playing independent of the mechanism, L

10. In apparatusfor measuringthe eifect In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FREDERICK A. YEAGER.

of a golf club stroke, measuring mechanism including a barrier in temporary contact With the ball during the application of the stroke to the ball and movable under impact of the ball to provide the measurement, the Witnesses: barrier movement taking the barrier out of FRANCIS B. HAMILTON, the flight path of the ball. G. A. MALZI.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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